Day 8-We Biked the Bridge! 

We woke up to a stuffy room and headed to a simple hotel continental breakfast of toast, hard boiled eggs and yogurt.  Then it was off to Hyde Street to find Blazing Saddles Bike Shop and our bike rentals.  After signing several waivers and declining the insurance, we watched a very short video to train us and direct us to the Golden Gate Bridge via bicycle.  We were fitted for helmets, taught how to shift the bike and most importantly , how to stop the bike!   After a bike switch for Stacey to the Granny Special by a very patient and kind bike expert, and a little coaxing (and the promise of ice cream) for Mo, we were off onto the bike path toward the bridge. 

What a beautiful and picturesque ride.  Despite being told it was easy and flat we found a few formidable hills. The ride went from total overcast to spots of sun to sudden bursts of Buffalo like winter wind blasts.  The weather here takes some getting used to and we learned there are several micro climates depending on where you are in the city at any given time.  We stopped at the warming hut and found a coffee and some souvenirs and then proceeded Fort Point, a Civil War national park.  The girls got their books stamped and then it was time to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge.  

What a ride.   After going up another hill we found ourselves on the outside pedestrian lane of this beautiful span with many lanes of traffic whizzing by.  We were on a pretty crowded pedestrian/bike lane with two narrow lanes of walking traffic ( a lane each way) and two narrow lanes of bike traffic (a lane each way).  It was like threading a needle sometimes and it was amazing--tons of people stopping to take pictures, not really worried about all the bikes buzzing by--it was a challenge, but well worth it.
The girls did a great job....with Anna running the GoPro on her helmet the entire way.  We stopped a few times to observe the surroundings, but made it over in good time.  

We gathered ourselves at Vista Point--and proceeded down the long, and pretty steep hill to a beautiful upscale seaside town of Sausalito--called the "French Riviera of the West".  We parked our bikes (but not at the bike valet parking area--really?), and arranged for the ferry ride back. We then found a nice Italian pizzeria for a Margherita pizza and a few drinks outside on a bench by the bay.  We did some shopping of course, and then went back on the ferry.  It was a great destination, and made for a nice afternoon.  


The ferry ride was great--the girls and Al went on deck to take pictures of Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge from yet another vantage point, large ships going out to sea, the beautiful Bay Bridge, and the San Francisco Skyline--all great! 

We docked, took our bikes off the ferry and proceeded to do some real city bike riding along the green painted bike lane of some pretty major thoroughfares--scary at first, but San Francisco is used to lots of bikers, and is a pretty friendly bike city.  

We arrived at Fisherman's Wharf and had fun shopping, eating a fish and chips dinner (Anna and Al), a crab sandwich (Stacey) and a hamburger (MaryGrace-hates fish!)---then we rode to Ghiradelli Square for some ice cream with Ghiradelli chocolate poured on the top...we loved the ice cream and the free samples.  Finally we arrived back at the bike rental shop to a round of applause from the Blazing Saddles Bike Shop folks--We had "biked the bridge!"-it was a great experience and a great day! 

Tomorrow we are on a Big Bus Tour--we will see all we can on our last full day of vacation! 

The nieghborhood where we are staying is beautiful!

An Angry Bird taking a bird bath...no drinks from this fountain for us!

Time to cross the bridge!

We did it!
Can't wait to see this footage from the GoPro! 

Now a pro!

Time to head back on the ferry!

Lunch Seaside in Sausalito

  

We did it!